Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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223. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of the thatch steering group that his Department is currently establishing; the persons who will sit on this steering group; the aim of the steering group; and if any member of the steering group has a thatched roof. [27325/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The steering group being established will be called the Built Vernacular Heritage (Thatch) Steering Group. Its aim is to enhance the protection and conservation of historic thatched roofs under Action 6 of A Living Tradition: a strategy to enhance the understand, minding, and handing on of our built vernacular heritage, which was published by my Department and which I launched in December 2021.

The remit of the steering group is to assist with implementation of the strategy. Its first priority is to work to resolve the urgent issue of affordability and availability of insurance for thatched buildings. It will also examine other relevant issues, including thatching standards, fire prevention guidance, and the availability of suitable thatching materials. The steering group will work to accelerate the recording and protection of thatched buildings, and establish a central database of such structures. It will also progress relevant parts of other actions of the strategy as they relate to thatch and thatching.

The range of stakeholders comprising the steering group includes a thatch owner (Edward Frampton), a thatcher (Jimmy Lenehan), a representative of the local authority architectural conservation officers (Rose Ryall, Waterford City and County Council), a representative of the local authority heritage officers (Joe Gallagher, Donegal County Council), a representative of the Department’s thatching grants section (Patricia Rogers), a representative of the Heritage Council (Colm Murray), and a representative of the Department for Communities (Northern Ireland) (Caroline Maguire). The group will be chaired by Jimmy Lenehan.